Peeling The Scales From Their Eyes So They Can See!

I met two new moms yesterday. At the vegan restaurant.

Mom A:

me: what is his name?
Mom A: (it's a nice, classic boy's name)
me: how old is he?
Mom A: ten weeks
me: Where did you deliver?
Mom A: (startled)--It was supposed to be a home birth...but...
me: yes?
Mom A: (names my old work; I realized that both her life and her son's was saved by swift  intervention.)
me: I used to work there! I delivered there too! How was your anesthesia? Are you doing okay?
Mom A: (couldn't remember who did the anesthesia) Everyone was so nice!
me: I know. They were super emotionally supportive. After my c-section, when the Postpartum Nurse helped me take a shower, and she helped me with EVERYTHING, she smiled and said, 'Today you just gave birth; today you are the Queen.' I also shared how when my milk came in, my hormones surged and I cried something terrible. The nurses had anticipated it, for most highly-educated women do this four days after giving birth. They just do. And they supported me wonderful through it.
Mom A: I know, they were the best!
me: are you doing okay?
Mom A: It was a lot to 'process' since there was a change in plan, but I am getting more okay with it.
me: That is good. Mine was hard, too. I was an induction and got stuck at four centimeters. I was praying the whole time to be taken to Heaven and just be done with it while I was in that labor bed.
Mom A: (smiles and agrees). I felt that way too!

Mom B:

me: your baby is BEAUTIFUL! what is her name?
Mom B: (a name of a popular actress, a strong, classic name. Not 'Sophia' which is very popular now.)
me: I LOVE that name! How old is she? Ten months?
Mom B: six months.
me: Wow! good breast-feeding, mom! (give her a high five, she looks surprised I am pro- 'La Leche') She looks so healthy! Where did you deliver?
Mom B: I delivered at home.
me: Oh, that's good.
Mom B: I had a water birth. It was good. I was just really into my own thing...(she looks dreamy). It was good to be in my own home.
me: My dad was a home birth!  I asked because I do anesthesia, and I work in L&D.
Mom B: You...do...c-sections?!
me: yes, if they are needed. I do epidurals too. But only if the mother wants them. Birth plan or not, when mom says she wants it, I put it in, never before. Sometimes it gets tricky when the husband doesn't want it and the wife does. We always listen to the wife.
Mom B: (very cautious, reserved) That is good that you let the mom have her say!
me: Well, the only sad thing is this: the L&D nurse that is with you knows a lot on how to have it vaginally too. They want to avoid c-sections just like you. Many times people come in with their own plan and do not take advantage of the resource that is there for them in their nurse.
Mom B: (looks at me like I have horns and cloven hooves)
me: How do you think they time it so that the OB always shows up on time for the kid to come out? They can adjust the timing.
Mom B: (sees my point, face relaxes) The nurses do most of the work, huh?
me: Well, they are very skilled and can catch a baby if they have to, but they won't. Did you know we have nurse midwives too?
Mom B: (relaxes) No, I didn't know! (smiles)
me: The (competitor hospital) has a high c-section rate, and they manage the birth so much the mom does not get much of a choice. Our hospital is more willing to let mom have her say and do everything possible to keep it a vaginal birth.
Mom B: starts to walk away.
I pat the seat next to me. She comes back.
me: Look, I don't tell most people this. I am a Reiki Master. (she looks surprised). A Karuna Reiki Master. I give Reiki to my patients, but I don't let them know. I say a special prayer to bless the baby as it is born. I hold the mother's hand during the c-section and give Reiki that way, too.
(she is stunned)
There are LOTS of us in the medical field who are just waiting for the chance to be in the open. Medicine is changing for the better.
I have over 57,000 hits on my blog, and over 1,200 followers on Twitter, and over 1000 'likes' on my Facebook page. I am internationally known. I am Reiki Doc.
I stay anonymous because I have a family to support and my work is not ready for it yet.
I am teaching nurses there Reiki though. And the night shift knows I am a medium and are always asking me if I have seen any new ghosts!

And she looked at me with new eyes!

I 'sensed' that her world was being shaken around a bit. She had a bit of processing to do. A nice doctor? An anesthesiologist who gives epidurals and spinals for c-sections holding a mom's hand and giving Reiki?

Her mental construct of her world was having to find someplace to 'fit' me and my work into it.

And there wasn't much room for it.

If she thought with her Heart Center, instead of her Mind, it would have made perfect sense.

Namaste,

Reiki Doc

Reiki Birth

Dear Mother,

While you are in your labor, I help you with the pain of the contractions. I am an anesthesiologist, trained to place the epidural. If you go to cesarean section, I help you with this also.

You do not know me. I am female. I have had birth. By c-section. I went post-dates. The induction stopped at four centimeters, and I was taken to the OR. We talk about this, if the need arises to make you feel at ease with the childbirth process.

I work well with Doulas. I really like them. The very best Doulas understand my role as an anesthesiologist. They give the mother the okay to stop and ask for help if they think it is right. It is all about you. Really. It is. 'You are the Queen today,' the post-partum nurse told me as she helped me take a shower, 'for today you have given birth.' Her words affect the way I treat you, my patient. She is right. You are the Queen.

What you do not know, is that I am a Reiki Master. I teach Reiki. I studied more to become a Karuna Reiki (R) Master. I teach that too. My vibration is very high. On purpose. I work as a team with the Higher Realm. All Reiki light workers do.

When I scrub your back, it is a spiral. We are taught that in basic sterile practices in the OR. However, the spiral is also used to start a Reiki healing. I do BOTH when I start my work with you. I also ask Spirit for help, especially if your back is not straight, if you have fat or edema over the spine, or you are especially nervous. Also if your labor is fast, or baby is under stress.

If you have trauma in your past, I know. I feel it. My energy links with yours as I heal you. I understand the problems that you have with your husband. I have had that also. I understand molest. I have compassion for all you have experienced.

The space I select to place the epidural is not random. Although it is in the lumbar spine, I have a choice between a little higher or lower, depending on how easy it is for it to insert. This choice is always guided. I know 'you will not be happy at that level' if I aim for the wrong one. Believe me, before I tuned in, I went anyway, always having difficulty. Now I know.

My spiritual practice helps to ground the chaos of labor. My love from my heart, for you in your condition, comforts you. I ask about the baby to distract you while I work. I check, twice, to make sure the epidural is going to be right for you and offer you relief. As I place the tape on the back, I end my Reiki session, and the healing flow stops.

After your pain is less, I can talk. I find out what I need to know, and as I fill out my forms and start the pump, I reinforce whatever it is I think you might need to know. What is okay, what isn't with a running epidural. What to anticipate when the head drops into the birth canal. I set an example for you to stay calm amidst the chaos of new life.

Afterwards I check on you in post-partum. I want you to know I really care, and am honored to share your joy.

The hardest ones are the birth ball birth plan patients. They have no idea how bad the pain can get. They consider it a failure to ask for my services. I want to say I really know, and wish so much I could share 'you now have a Reiki birth'. This is so much better than trying to twist the fate to match your will. Your baby will be born in the love that is of Heaven. And your body will not have pain. You can actually enjoy your son or daughter's birth!
In thinking you have judged anesthesia to be what it is not. Relax and know I have your safety first, and always your comfort with the best of all realities. (I wish I could teach this to everyone who works on Obstetric patients, especially anesthesia caregivers like me.)

Welcome to the world new family. I hope you start things right. Enjoy your miracle: New Life!!!

Namaste,

Reiki Doc